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“Um…” Max started gagging.

I followed his gaze and covered my mouth. Both of Jason’s boots were gone, completely singed from his feet, and his big toe was pointed the wrong way and swelling so big it looked as if he’d stepped on an apple and kept it.

One of the other guys paled. I squinted to get a better look, then felt stupid. Of course Colton would be with Jason still. He was a firefighter and married to Jason’s sister, and every girl was obsessed with him, except me. No I had another obsession…

The other guy was a prettier, buffer version of Max, if that was even possible. Both guys were gorgeous. And married.

Of course.

Not that I was in the market.

But after that kiss…

My loneliness had never been so apparent.

“Stay still,” Max commanded Jason. “Who the hell gets struck by lightning outside his own home?” And then he shook his head and shuddered out a, “I hope it’s not like this for all Jasons.”

“I’m starting to believe in the curse.” Colton slid his phone into his back pocket.

I was too curious not to ask. “Curse? What curse?”

“Ah, come here, little one. Let Uncle Max tell you a story.”

“Say ‘Uncle Max’ again, and I’m shanking you,” Jason threatened from the ground. He was staring up at the sky, but his eyes looked unfocused as his head lolled from side to side as if he was fighting imaginary demons. “Are unicorns real?”

“Oh, hell,” Colt mumbled. “That ambulance better hurry. He may have brain damage. I don’t think it hit his head, but you never know, especially if he’s asking about unicorns.”

“Why wouldn’t he ask about unicorns?” Max said it as if it was normal. “Anyway, back to story-time.”

He was a lunatic, but I liked him, and Anabelle had thought he was hilarious, so he got bonus points for being animated and showing her how to shoot the water gun perfect every time a while earlier. I was suddenly glad Annabelle had run back into the house when Jason arrived, so she could eat lunch.

“Jason, here, has disappointed the universe with his current lifestyle.”

I gulped. There it was again. His lifestyle. Did they mean his dating of the elderly? Or was he gay now? Aghhh… why do I even care?

“Lifestyle,” I repeated. “You mean, he’s…” I didn’t want to say it.

Max’s face spread into a large grin. “Too bad he kisses like a miracle, am I right?”

I felt myself blush.

“He’s not gay,” Colton said in a bored voice. “He’s just… offended Mother Nature far too long.”

“How does a person do that?” I asked, as sirens sounded.

“He got off his path,” Max said simply, as the ambulance pulled up. And while everyone fussed over getting Jason into the vehicle, Max held back and whispered under his breath so only I could hear. “He didn’t chase the girl.”